Corporate Liaison Committee

Fosters partnerships and collaborations between the Society and industry for mutually beneficial projects which further patient care and education.

Members

Dr Sofia Llahana (Chair) (London) 

Dr Sofia Llahana is Associate Professor (Research) in Advanced Practice and Endocrinology and an NIHR Advanced Fellow at City St George’s, University of London. She is an internationally recognised clinical academic with over 20 years’ experience, leading a translational research programme focused on behaviour change, digital health, and self-management in rare endocrine conditions. Her work integrates behavioural science, clinical endocrinology, and patient co-design to improve outcomes for people with adrenal and pituitary disorders. She has secured over £800,000 in research funding since 2022 and leads national and international collaborations, including a European Society of Endocrinology-endorsed study involving over 100 partners worldwide. Sofia works closely with patient advocacy groups to co-produce research and is committed to advancing equitable, patient-centred care through innovation, policy, and education.

Dr Rupa Ahluwalia (Norwich)

Rupa Ahluwalia is a Consultant Endocrinologist and Service Director for Diabetes & Endocrinology at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Her clinical interests include pituitary and adrenal disorders. She is also a senior digital clinician being actively involved in rolling out personalised outpatient follow up pathways within endocrinology. She has been a very active member of SfE through the Defining the future of Endocrinology – Implementation group (2022), Society of Endocrinology Clinical (2022-2026) & Public Engagement Committees (2021-2025).More recently she has been appointed as a member of the Corporate Liaison Committee.

Dr Matthew Gage (London)

Matt Gage is a basic scientist (PhD Leeds University, postdocs at Leeds & UCL), based as a Senior Lecturer at the Royal Veterinary College in London.

Matt’s research is funded by Diabetes UK and the BHF to investigate why people with type 2 diabetes are at higher risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases. 

Matt’s research uses both female and male mouse models to investigate the role of macrophages, insulin and statins on cardiometabolic diseases and their sexual dimorphism.

Dr Dharani Hapangama (Liverpool) 

Professor Dharani K. Hapangama is a Consultant Gynaecologist at Liverpool Women’s Hospital and Professor of Gynaecology at the University of Liverpool. A graduate of the University of Edinburgh, she completed specialist training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology across Cambridge, London and Liverpool. She leads a translational research programme on uterine biology and endometrial regeneration, with a focus on endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, abnormal uterine bleeding, menopause, and endometrial cancer. She has authored over 110 peer-reviewed publications, supervised more than 25 doctoral trainees, and holds key national and international roles, including membership of the MRC College of Experts, the Wellcome Trust Early Career Award Committee, and Scientific Officer for ESHRE’s Special Interest Group in Endometriosis and Uterine Disorders

Dr Zaki Hassan-Smithh (Birmingham) 

Zaki Hassan-Smith is a Consultant Endocrinologist at University Hospitals Birmingham and Clinical Academic at Aston Medical School. His clinical and research interests focus on metabolic bone disease, parathyroid disorders, and endocrine aspects of ageing, including muscle–bone interactions. He leads undergraduate medical education as Year 5 Lead and directs the Integrated Academic Training programme at Aston. He is actively involved in national and international collaborations, including industry-supported registries and investigator-led studies. Through his role on the Society for Endocrinology Corporate Liaison Committee, he supports partnerships that advance research, innovation, and education in endocrinology.  

Dr Andrew Lansdown (Cardiff) 

Dr Andrew Lansdown has been a Consultant Physician & Endocrinologist at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff since 2016. He has served as clinical committee member with the Society for Endocrinology and have sat on the Royal College of Physicians new consultants’ and joint specialty Endocrinology and Diabetes committees. He also serves on the RCP Wales exec group, is Lead RCP Regional Adviser for Wales and recently has taken up the role of secretary for the Welsh Endocrine and Diabetes Society. In addition, Matthew is an honorary senior lecturer with Cardiff University School of Medicine.

Dr Jessica Lee (London) 

Dr Jessica Lee is an ST7 Specialist Registrar in Diabetes and Endocrinology in the North Thames East London Deanery. In addition to clinical care, her interests include medical education and mentoring medical students. She recently completed a year long Teaching Fellowship at Barts Health NHS Trust and was awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Education. In recognition of her contributions to academic and clinical teaching, she was appointed Honorary Clinical Lecturer at the Institute of Health Sciences Education, Queen Mary University of London.

Jessica's experience bridges frontline clinical service and educational strategy, positioning her to support effective liaison between clinical teams, training bodies, and corporate stakeholders.

Dr Tijana Mitic (Edinburgh)

Tijana is a research leader at the Centre for Cardiovascular Science within the INCR. Mitić Lab investigates the epigenetic changes through non-coding RNAs (lncRNA, miRNAs and enhancer-specific lncRNA) in the cardiovascular systems, aortic diseases and cardiometabolic pathologies.

Tijana obtained a highly competitive, first in Scotland, Career re-entry fellowship from the British Heart Foundation (BHF). She was awarded a Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy for her teaching efforts. Tijana has been funded by the Transitional Fellowship from the BHF Research Excellence Award REA3. She is a Society for Endocrinology 2020/23 Leadership and Development Awardee and an assistant Editor to the Cellular Molecular Life Sciences 2024/27.

Dr Khin Swe Myint (Norwich)

Dr Myint is a consultant endocrinologist at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of East Anglia (UEA). 

She currently serves as the Endocrine Cancer Convenor and is a member of the Programme Committee and Corporate Liaison Committee for the Society for Endocrinology. She is a member of the Specialty Clinical Exam Board for MRCP Endocrinology within the RCP Federation. Swe has recently been appointed as an associate global director for Asia Pacific region, at the Royal College of Physicians (RCP). Swe has served as a Regional Adviser (2017–2022), an elected Councillor (2022–2025), and a PACES examiner, and she also hosts PACES examinations locally. Her special interests include managing young people with diabetes, particularly during the transition from paediatric to adult care, adrenal services, Neuroendocrine cancers, and obesity management.

Dr Anand Velusamy (London) 

Dr Anand Velusamy is a Consultant Endocrinologist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, with specialist expertise in adrenal, thyroid disease, calcium disorders and neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). He has advanced skills in thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) and organises annual thyroid ultrasound course in affiliation with the society.

He has a strong focus on clinical and commercial research, working at the interface of academia and industry to drive innovation, support high-impact trials and accelerate the translation of scientific advances into clinical practice.

As a member of the Corporate Liaison Committee of the British Society for Endocrinology, he plays a key role in strengthening strategic partnerships between clinicians, researchers and industry to deliver meaningful advances in endocrine care.

Dr Helen Wallace (Belfast) 

Dr Helen Wallace is a consultant Physician Endocrinology & Diabetes at Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust